INVISIBLE LIGHT – The Dolomites in ultra large format

€57,566

352

OUR GOAL IS TRANSFORMING A RUSSIAN MILITARY TRUCK INTO A HUGE CAMERA AND CAPTURE THE LIGHT OF THIS UNIQUE MOUNTAINS ! OUR URAL WILL BECOME A SPECTACULAR " CAMERA OBSCURA "

URAL 375

BUT let`s first show you what we already do :

We want to honor the DOLOMITES, now a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, in images that are almost as ENDURING as the mountains themselves. We have thus revived an archaic method of photography – the ambrotype! “Images that tell no lies.”

Kurt Moser has been researching and testing various methods for many years. Now with his HISTORICAL camera, considerable effort and PASSION, he is ready to take photos that show the mountains in a completely new LIGHT.

Our original bellows camera, dating from 1907, can take pictures of up to 50x60 cm format in a light spectrum – ultraviolet – that is completely invisible to the human eye.
In order to do justice to the majesty of these mountains, we have gone one step further in order to take, WITH YOUR HELP, unbelievably impressive LARGE-FORMAT images of up to 150 cm in size.

After many years we have finally acquired the rare objective that we sought.

For technology buffs, the lens in question is the APO NIKKOR 1780 mm, of which there are only ten in existence worldwide.

We have thus overcome one of the biggest obstacles to our project. This objective allows us to build an enormous, WALK-IN, mobile CAMERA.
We also have the appropriate vehicle ready: a historic URAL truck with six-wheel drive.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS 3D ANIMATION VIDEO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO

Together with our partner, Pichler special vehicle constructors, we will convert this historic piece of military equipment into one of the largest MOBILE CAMERAS in the world.

We wish to immortalise the light of the Dolomites on silver and glass and make it accessible to all the world. The exhibition dates (including in Berlin’s renowned photography museum) are already agreed, and preparations for the print run are in hand.

What we need NOW is YOUR SUPPORT in order to convert this Russian military truck into an artistic tool, a camera, to allow our project to become a reality

Risks and challenges

Practically none: we already have the extremely rare lens (Apo Nikko 1780 mm)! In the extremely unlikely event that it gets damaged or lost, we have on the one hand a good friend, one of five other private collectors in possession of such a lens, who has agreed to make it available to us for the project if necessary; and if the worst comes to the worst, we also have another slightly smaller lens (Apo Nikko 1200 mm) with which we can produce almost equivalent images.

Support

Select this reward

Pledge €2 or more
About US$ 2.27

Become a part

Kurt will shout your name (or the name of someone you love) into “his” mountains, making them a part of the rocky eternities. You have a complicated name? Perfect! That will be fun! We’ll publish the video afterwards and send you the link!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €15 or more
About US$ 17

Base Camp

The people at Base Camp are the ones who make the expedition possible. Your name or signature will be laser-inscribed onto a metal plate that will become part of the Ural truck and thus form part of the giant camera. This plate will accompany us to our international exhibitions and will feature prominently in all reporting.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €35 or more
About $40

Sherpa I

A project can only succeed with the proper support. Have your name inscribed on the metal plate (see Base Camp) and you will in addition receive an exclusive, numbered, strictly limited-edition postcard, only available as part of this Kickstarter, with an ambrotype image from the Lightcatcher project. We will send you this postcard personally from the heart of the Dolomites.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €95 or more
About $108

Mountaineer I

You don’t leave a fellow mountain-climber in trouble! As a thank you for your Pledge, we will send you a high-quality gloss copy of one of the Lightcatcher images in 40x50 cm format, hand-signed by Kurt and numbered.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €95 or more
About $108

Mountaineer

You don’t leave a fellow mountain-climber in trouble! As a thank you for your Pledge, we will send you a high-quality gloss copy of one of the Lightcatcher images in 40x50 cm format, hand-signed by Kurt and numbered.

You will receive an image different to the ones mentioned in Mountaineer I oder II

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €180 or more
About $205

Mountaineer II

Can’t get enough of the mountains? With this Pledge you will receive two different, exclusive high-quality gloss copies of selected Lightcatcher images in 40x50 cm format, hand-signed by Kurt and numbered.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €500 or more
About US$ 567

Belayer I

Climbers have to stick close together in the mountains. Spend two days in one of our partner hotels in the amazing mountain scenery of the Dolomites, meet Kurt personally over dinner and chat with him about the project and the Dolomites.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €750 or more
About US$ 851

Belayer II

Accompany Kurt on his journey. Spend three days in one of our selected partner hotels in the amazing mountain scenery of the Dolomites, meet Kurt personally and accompany him for a whole day on his work in the mountains.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €1,400 or more
About $1,593

Ridgewalker I

A piece of genuinely breathtaking mountain scenery for your home: as a Ridgewalker I you will receive an original ambrotype on black cathedral glass of a Dolomites image of our choice in 25x30 cm format, in a high-quality frame designed by Kurt.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €3,000 or more
About $3,414

Ridgewalker II

A piece of genuinely breathtaking mountain scenery for your home: as a Ridgewalker II you will receive a triptych on black cathedral glass of a Dolomites image of our choice, consisting of three individual pictures in 25x30 cm format in a high-quality frame designed by Kurt.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €5,500 or more
About $6,260

Ridgewalker III

The Dolomites on a giant scale! With this Pledge you will receive an ambrotype image for all eternity in 50x60 cm format, including a high-quality frame designed by Kurt. We will select one of our favourite Dolomites images for you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €6,000 or more
About US$ 6,809

Mountain lover

Experience the Dolomites in their purest form. We will invite you to one of our exclusive partner hotels for two days; Kurt will come to visit and chat with you about the project, and present you with an original ambrotype (50x60 cm) of our choice.

Your name will of course be immortalised on the metal plate (see Base Camp).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge €7,000 or more
About US$ 7,943

Expedition sponsor

Give our project a face – even your own. Spend three days in a partner hotel selected by us and meet Kurt personally; as a special highlight we will create your own unique ambrotype portrait in 50x60 cm format, either of you or of a person of your choice.
Your name will of course be immortalised on the metal plate (see Base Camp).

As a supporter, a reproduction of your picture will (if you agree) feature prominently in the following publications and exhibitions.